These Concepts for Le Mans 2030 Give Us Hope for the Future of Motorsports

After perusing the finalists from Michelin's "Le Mans 2030: Design for the Win" challenge, I've had to revise by definition of wild and extreme prototype concepts. The current batch of 1000-hp Le Mans P1 hybrid racers are far from tame, but if we're lucky, some of the forward-looking concepts below will join Audi, Porsche, and Toyota in pursuit of victory at the great 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Michelin's latest contest, which was judged by a panel of auto industry design experts, awarded China's Tao Ni with first-place for his Infiniti prototype. Ni, who moved to London and earned his master's degree in design from the Royal College of Art, won over the panel with his inclusion of AI.

"Le Mans 24 Hour is all-day and all-weather racing," he said. "I think it is a great opportunity to combine autopilot in racing. Drive the car until the night, then the car transforms to computer modules into an autopilot mode. This will make Le Mans have more uncertainties, much more exciting and safer."

Among its various attributes, the mighty morphin' Infiniti features numerous shapes and aerodynamic devices that are either deployed or retracted to suit the performance needs of the driver and AI system.

Daniel Bacelar Pereira from Vila Real, Portugal, took second in the competition with his Bentley 9 Plus Michelin Battery Slick. If there's an award for the best retro-futuristic design, his nod to the Bentley Boys moves it to the top of the list.

"For this contest I came up with a solution to [make] a fully electric Le Mans 24 Hour race possible," he said. "The Michelin BatterySlick is a race tire that bears inside a set of batteries. The Bentley 9 is a concept car that blends classic with high tech."

The windowless Bentley makes use of a VR cockpit and wheel-mounted rotational batteries to keep the '9' charged at all times.

"The front struts and hubs are made of a type of plastic that changes shape when an electric current is run through it," he said. "As the components change shape they direct the wheels and the steering ailerons. This eliminates moving parts for increased durability over a grueling 24 hour race."

Ni's design will be honored by the French tire manufacturer at next year's 24 Hours of Le Mans, and all three finalists will be invited to Michelin's exclusive Designer's Reception to meet with the judges at the North American International Auto Show.

Along with 10 additional designs that received honorable mentions, one of more of the untethered ideas will appear on track at the legendary 24-hour race. Let's hope these concepts eventually make the transfer from rendering to reality.